- Our office will be closed Monday, May 25 in observance of Memorial Day. As we honor those who served, we wish you and your loved ones a safe and peaceful weekend.
Professionally, we pay it forward by handling family law cases on a pro bono basis through referrals from public interest agencies such as Philadelphia Legal Assistance, Philadelphia Volunteers for the Indigent Program (Philly VIP) and the Support Center for Child Advocates.
Megan Watson is serving as a volunteer mediator for Philadelphia Family Court’s new custody mediation program. The pilot program, run through CORA Good Shepherd Mediation and the Court, gives eligible parents in custody modification cases the opportunity to sit down with a trained, neutral mediator and work through their concerns before appearing before a judge.
Jackie DiColo participated in the Philadelphia Bar Association Annual 5K in support of the Anchors Foundation, an organization that provides care and assistance to individuals and families affected by cancer.
We always value the opportunity to stay engaged with the community we serve and to support organizations that provide stability, compassion, and practical assistance to people during some of life’s hardest moments.
Anna Mattis and Elise Moormann have both spent time volunteering at the Philadelphia Family Court Custody Help Center, where they provide information and assistance to pro se litigants filing custody petitions with the court, as part of an initiative to increase access to justice for Philadelphians navigating the family court system.
The firm has won numerous awards for our service, including Philly VIP’s Brennan Award and the Philadelphia Bar Foundation-Citizen’s Bank Pro Bono Award. We were also named to The Philadelphia Business Journal‘s List of Top 25 Law Firms by Pro Bono Hours in 2016 , 2017, 2021, and 2023.
In addition, many of our attorneys have been named to the First Judicial District’s Pro Bono Roll of Honor for exemplary pro bono work. Lisa Shapson also received the First Judicial District’s Pro Bono Publico Award from the Court of Common Pleas – Family Division, Domestic Relations in 2018.
At BKW Family Law, we value all families, including our work family. Everyone continues to cherish the Philadelphia Bar Association’s inaugural small firm Family Friendly Award in 2000 for employment policies demonstrating work-life balance and the importance of family (and community service).